where Sue J. will be hosting a study on the Proverbs. There will be daily reading and thought questions where we can post our comments.
She begins on this Monday, June 1. Hope to see you there!
And if you didn't know, Sue J is more than a blogger. She is a bell ringer. Here she is ringing all the bells, all by herself. It's a sight to behold! And if this doesn't make your soul sing, I don't know what will!
Monday was Memorial Day. That is the day the government set aside for all those in the United States to stop and reflect on the those in the military who gave their lives for our freedom. I am so thankful for those who served.
It must be tough being a soldier. You may be called to do things you don't want to do, or are afraid to do, but you do them because of your love of the country you serve. And while it wasn't always true, our country is currently made up of a completely volunteer armed service.
Many other countries require military service. In Israel, national military service is mandatory for any non-Arab Israeli citizen over the age of 18. Men serve three years, while women serve two.
My husband is a Army Veteran having graduated from the United State Military Academy, fought in Vietnam and served 4 years in the service. I have never served in the United States Army. But I am in God's army.
Like the US Army, God doesn't require that you serve. It is completely a volunteer army. Sometimes it's tough being a soldier for God. You may be called to do things you don't want to do, or are afraid to do, but you do them because of your love of the God you serve.
Serving in God's army requires dedication, just like in the US Army. Some even lay down their life, martyrs for Jesus. I'll probably never be called to that level of service. I pray I'm not. But I'm proud to be God's army just the same.
"I may never march in the infantry, ride in the cavalry, shoot in the artillery, I may never zoom o'er the enemy, but I'm in the Lord's army." Are you?
2 Timothy 2:3 -- Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
Five things big or small I'm thankful for this week:
1. For the men & women who serve in our armed forces, as well as their families who sacrifice on our behalf every day.
2.Getting together with Sonya for coffee on Tuesday. It's become our weekly ritual. We've been friends for 15 years, and our friendship has weathered many seasons beginning with her being a newlywed, and me single, to our current both being married, with her having 6 kids and me having 2.
3. Only waiting 15 minutes when I got my car inspected. Are you kidding me? That was so quick and I am so thankful, since I had two 5 yr olds with me! (my daughter & her friend).
4. The little things my husband does like make the coffee every morning, walk the dog, and take our daughter to school. His love language is truly acts of service.
5. God as the center of my life. Just thinking about a life without Jesus makes me depressed. With all the bad things in the world, I would have NO HOPE without Jesus. He makes my life worth living, and my death only temporary. I love that guy. :-)
What would you do if you had a chance encounter with someone who could change your life? A swimmer’s chance to jump in the pool with Michael Phelps. A singer’s chance to be heard by Simon Cowell. A writer’s chance to be read by Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing, the largest Christian publishing company in the world.)
Like the swimmer, would you jump in hoping to make a big splash? As a singer, would you sing a song, not worrying if it’s not good enough for anyone else to hear? Or would you be like a writer whose fear of rejection gives her writer’s block with no hope of inspiration.
You’ve stepped into the path of greatness ready to be judged, rejected or accepted. You’re scared you’re not good enough, but you pray you are. You squelch down the desire to run and say “never mind, I was just joking, I’m not worthy.”
But then you hear the words “I accept you!” You’re a gold medal Olympian, or a Grammy winning artist, or a New York Times best seller. You’ve been chosen by the greatest to be his protégé, and he will be your teacher.
Think it could never happen to you? I thought so too. But think again. That’s exactly what God does. He gives us the chance to do our best for Him. Sadly, by ourselves we aren’t enough. We sink instead of swim. We are more than a little pitchy. We have weak writing and no platform.
But God only sees Jesus and His perfection, so God says to us, “I accept you.” Now we have a Teacher who is willing to show us the ropes, to improve our craft and to perfect us.
All because of one chance encounter, your life can be changed. Jump in, sing out loud, write your story.
1 Corinthians 15:56-58 -- The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
Kelly Combs is a writer who loves coffee, clothes & Christ…not necessarily in that order. A chance encounter with Jesus changed her life. She is still waiting for that chance encounter with Michael Hyatt to pitch her devotional book.
You know that song from American Idol a few years back, when they'd vote someone off they'd play "you had a bad day." I can hear that song playing in my head right now. I'm tired from an overly busy week and don't have the energy to pull together a riveting post.
This is especially troubling now that Michael Hyatt (CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing) is following me on Twitter and could pop over any second to see what I wrote. And he'd find this. Oh, the agony. {Mr. Hyatt, please come back on Monday, I'll write something amazing...or I could just fax over my book proposal now...it's ready!!}.
In any event, I found this meme at "Under Grace & Over Coffee." Her tag line is "I take my coffee with milk, sugar, and the joy of knowing Jesus." Well I could have said that! So I thought, since I'm feeling random, I'd link up. Here are some random things this week:
1. Too many school programs, play dates & picnics have left me exhausted, and tomorrow is the last day of school for my preschooler. I need another week, really. Can't she go one more week?
2. The pool opens this weekend! My kids are thrilled. I am facing the reality of wearing a swim suit in public. I'm not ready for this. Where is my self-tanner?
3. I loved the American Idol finale! I knew Kris would win, because all the Danny people threw their votes to Kris. It was a great show.
4. I haven't been reading my Bible. This is leading to writer's block, not to mention getting farther behind in my goal to read it in a year. I need to skip ahead...Leviticus & Numbers are so overwhelming. I love the New Testament, and I am bogged down in the Old Testament details (how many in each tribe, what sacrifices they made).
5. My in-laws aren't doing too well physically, and this is leaving me really bummed too. I love my in-laws SO much, they are awesome. You can read about them here. But if you get a chance, say a prayer for them.
Okay, so that is my completely random post today. It's not my usually upbeat fun. But every one has a bad day now & then.
1. My 5 yr old, Cici graduated from preschool yesterday. It was a wonderful event! I'm happy and proud, but it's bittersweet this end to the preschool yrs, as next year I'll have both girls in school full time.
2. My 9 yr old, Gigi had her Spring musical Tuesday night and she did a great job as narrator. I'm happy and proud of her.
3. I wrote my book proposal! I may not ever need it (sigh), but I wrote it, so I'm ready for the "next step" in the pathway to publication.
4. A coffee date with my friend Sue J tomorrow. Our last outing sans kids until next September. (We really should get a sitter over the summer and go out for coffee one day. We always say we will, but never do).
5. A friend took both my girls on Sunday from 2-7!! Hubby & I spent the afternoon together and went out to dinner. A very rare treat.
Hebrews 12:28 -- Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.
My friend Bella-Mella gave up sugar in February, and posted this post on some hot tips after my post on self-control Monday. Thought I'd link over to hers today in case any of you are trying to get rid of sugar in your diet too.
So blogger friends, meet my blogger friend Bella-Mella. Melanie, her come my bloggy friends.
